Lions 10 (Byrne try, Buckingham 3 goals) d Sea Eagles 8 (Afamasaga try, Halden 2 goals)
Game played in cold and wet conditions, edge of the NSW storm clipping Auckland today
First 20 mins was spent with both sides keeping it close in the conditions and getting to a kick, we probably had the better of the opportunities but couldnt finish anything off. Best chance we had was around the 25min mark when Afamasaga ran a great line from about 40m out and was brought down 5m out. Only had 2 tackles left form there and couldnt make anything of it. Interesting tactics were for the 1st 20 of the half Robson played hooker with Groom going to 2nd receiver, he looked quite good on his feet running the ball and some nice inside balls too. We had a great chance with a full set from about 1om out which was ruined by forwards going from dummy half then a shocking pass from dummy half from Groom to Robson who knocked on.
Game started to chance in the final 10m, at 1 stage we made 10m in our set and had Halden clearing to about halfway. They were right on attack, they looked in but Groom put a big hit on Sonny Fai right in front of the line to drive him back. However they grubbered into the in goal on the last, never looked like going dead but Meaney showed no urgency to get back and Byrne came through to score. they converted and went into ht 6-0 up.
2nd half started well for us, another clean break from Afamasaga, but then it fell apart for 10mins. Anderson tore us apart up the middle. They got a couple of repeat sets and then they put up a bomb, Bani came down with it in the clear but was caught about 40m out, panicked and threw a pass infield and they had the ball again. Trembath stripped 20m out and they went up 8-0 in the 49th min. Finefuiaki then made a huge run and earnt a penalty at the play the ball, Halden got us good metres, then from about 3m out Afamasaga ran a great angle back in towards the sticks and Robson threw a nice soft ball and he cut through them to score the try, Halden converted and we were back to 8-6 with 25 to go. We put together some nice plays, Groom made a nice break but we conceeded a penalty next play for an obstruction from Wells. We got a penalty 18m out in front which halden kicked to make it 8-8 with 10 to go.
Byrne took a bomb 5m out, was over the line but Neumann and Halden combined nicely to push him back. We then imploded again. 10m out, infront of the sticks, NBQ lost the ball, Robson was standing in front of him, caught it, and knew straight away the mistake he had made, and that put us 10-8 down. Went for short kickoff, Meaney got up to knock it back, and the ball rolled through Robsons legs and they dived on it and game over, we didnt get another chance.
Finefuiaki was awesome, made huge metres all game, has great leg drive, and played himself to a standstill, after 1 big run he was struggling to get up he was that buggered and came off. Deserves a crack at NRL
Afamasaga was very strong running the ball as well, 3 line breaks and some good offloads, few mistakes let his game down though
Trembath looks very promising, made good hard metres all game and definitely looks up to NRL level in the future, Shaw was much the same off the bench, very very good
Haldens kicking game was very good in the conditions and he took the line on well too. Should probably get the bench spot this week
Groom, looked good on his feet, alternated with Robson all day. Most impressive part of his game for me was his defence, when we really needed it in the 2nd half he was the guy who come running up with a good hit and a few occassions
Outside backs didnt really get a chance in those conditions, Neumann was caught out in defence 3 times that i noticed and he will need to work on that
Was mention pre game from our PL coach that Des rates Bani quite highly and with another pre season under his belt will probably be in contention for NRL wing spot
Game played in cold and wet conditions, edge of the NSW storm clipping Auckland today
First 20 mins was spent with both sides keeping it close in the conditions and getting to a kick, we probably had the better of the opportunities but couldnt finish anything off. Best chance we had was around the 25min mark when Afamasaga ran a great line from about 40m out and was brought down 5m out. Only had 2 tackles left form there and couldnt make anything of it. Interesting tactics were for the 1st 20 of the half Robson played hooker with Groom going to 2nd receiver, he looked quite good on his feet running the ball and some nice inside balls too. We had a great chance with a full set from about 1om out which was ruined by forwards going from dummy half then a shocking pass from dummy half from Groom to Robson who knocked on.
Game started to chance in the final 10m, at 1 stage we made 10m in our set and had Halden clearing to about halfway. They were right on attack, they looked in but Groom put a big hit on Sonny Fai right in front of the line to drive him back. However they grubbered into the in goal on the last, never looked like going dead but Meaney showed no urgency to get back and Byrne came through to score. they converted and went into ht 6-0 up.
2nd half started well for us, another clean break from Afamasaga, but then it fell apart for 10mins. Anderson tore us apart up the middle. They got a couple of repeat sets and then they put up a bomb, Bani came down with it in the clear but was caught about 40m out, panicked and threw a pass infield and they had the ball again. Trembath stripped 20m out and they went up 8-0 in the 49th min. Finefuiaki then made a huge run and earnt a penalty at the play the ball, Halden got us good metres, then from about 3m out Afamasaga ran a great angle back in towards the sticks and Robson threw a nice soft ball and he cut through them to score the try, Halden converted and we were back to 8-6 with 25 to go. We put together some nice plays, Groom made a nice break but we conceeded a penalty next play for an obstruction from Wells. We got a penalty 18m out in front which halden kicked to make it 8-8 with 10 to go.
Byrne took a bomb 5m out, was over the line but Neumann and Halden combined nicely to push him back. We then imploded again. 10m out, infront of the sticks, NBQ lost the ball, Robson was standing in front of him, caught it, and knew straight away the mistake he had made, and that put us 10-8 down. Went for short kickoff, Meaney got up to knock it back, and the ball rolled through Robsons legs and they dived on it and game over, we didnt get another chance.
Finefuiaki was awesome, made huge metres all game, has great leg drive, and played himself to a standstill, after 1 big run he was struggling to get up he was that buggered and came off. Deserves a crack at NRL
Afamasaga was very strong running the ball as well, 3 line breaks and some good offloads, few mistakes let his game down though
Trembath looks very promising, made good hard metres all game and definitely looks up to NRL level in the future, Shaw was much the same off the bench, very very good
Haldens kicking game was very good in the conditions and he took the line on well too. Should probably get the bench spot this week
Groom, looked good on his feet, alternated with Robson all day. Most impressive part of his game for me was his defence, when we really needed it in the 2nd half he was the guy who come running up with a good hit and a few occassions
Outside backs didnt really get a chance in those conditions, Neumann was caught out in defence 3 times that i noticed and he will need to work on that
Was mention pre game from our PL coach that Des rates Bani quite highly and with another pre season under his belt will probably be in contention for NRL wing spot
